By John Clifford Lintao
THERE are pieces of evidence that would link Health Secretary Francisco Duque to alleged corruption schemes at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
“May sinasabi nga at narinig ko si Senator Ping Lacson na sabi naman ni Sir Ping na talagang wala pa raw ebidensya na nagli-link kay Sec. Duque sa PhilHealth [issue]. Ako, with all due respect, palagay ko meron na,” said Senator Imee Marcos in a radio interview.
“So kailangan tinitignan natin nang maigi. Tignan natin at maganda na nandiyan ang DOJ (Department of Justice), mas lalong maganda yung COA (Commission on Audit) ay nariyan para maliwanag at makita natin.”
Citing one of the pieces of evidence, Marcos hinted at the issue where PhilHealth’s office in the Ilocos Region was allegedly being housed in a building owned by Duque’s family.
“Dito sa amin, kasi taga-Ilocos ako, narito ako, alam na alam namin na yung gusali na dating ospital ng pamilyang Duque, yun ang inarkila mismo nung siya ang nandoon,” she said.
“Tapos nangangalakal talaga yung iba’t iba nilang kumpanya sa medical supply, sa medical equipment. Bakit ganun? Saan ka nakarinig?” she added.
She however said that the prerogative whether not to remove Duque from his position would be something that the President has.
“Nag-suggest na kami ng ganyan, pero nasa Presidente na talaga yan kung anong gagawin,” she said, referring to an earlier Senate resolution signed by 14 senators seeking Duque’s resignation.
“Naiintindihan ko rin na napakahirap naman magbitiw ang hepe mo kapag lumalaban ka na ng giyera. E giyera ng COVID, biglang changing management, talagang pangit yun,” she added.
What the public can do, for now, is to help the Department of Health in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcos said.
“Palagay ko mas okay na pag-isipan na lang or tulungan natin ang DOH somehow kasi talagang hindi kaya,” she said.
Duque has already dismissed claims of conflict of interest in the PhilHealth’s lease in their family property.